Srinagar, November 29: Polling for the fifth phase of panchayat polls across Jammu and Kashmir began on Thursday amid tight security arrangements. Voting began at 8 AM and will end at 2 PM. The voting in the state is taking place in 2,512 polling stations, out of which 769 are in Kashmir division and 1,743 in Jammu division. Reports inform that a total of 848 polling stations have been categorised as hypersensitive -- 755 in Kashmir and 93 in the Jammu division. Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Elections 2018: Voting Underway for Fourth Phase, 5470 Candidates in Fray.

Photo Voter Slips have been distributed among the voters to inform them of their polling stations, reports informed. According to details by Election Commission officials, a total of 4,763 candidates are in the fray in the fifth phase. A total of 309 are in the fray for sarpanch posts and 1,534 panch seats while 118 sarpanchs and 1,046 panchs have been already elected unopposed. Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Elections 2018: Polling for Third Phase Ends Peacefully.

According to a report by IANS,404,283 electors will be voting in the sarpanch constituencies and 270,295 for panch constituencies. The nine-phased Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir will end on December 17. The Panchayat polls were last held in the state in 2011. Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Elections 2018: 75.2 Per Cent Voter Turnout Despite Threats, Boycott Calls. 

The first phase of panchayat elections was held on November 17 and a voter turnout of 74.1 per cent was recorded. The phase two of the election was held on November 20 it was an overall 71.1 per cent. The phase three panchayat polls in the state were held on November 23 in which the state witnessed a polling percentage of 75.2 per cent. In the fourth phase which was held on November 27, the state recorded a total voter turnout of 71.3 per cent.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 29, 2018 09:09 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).